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Mental health crisis center to open in Little Rock, aims to keep people out of jails, hospitals

In many cases, those suffering a mental health crisis end up in already crowded jails and emergency rooms.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Work is nearly complete on a new center to help people suffering from a mental health crisis.

The Pulaski County Crisis Stabilization Unit will be the second of its kind to open in Arkansas.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed off on Act 423 last spring which, in part, funded four short-term crisis stabilization facilities. They include the center set to open July 9 in Pulaski County, one that opened in Sebastian County in March, and facilities planned in Craighead and Washington counties.

"We do have a number of our members of the community who have mental issues," Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde said.

In many cases, those suffering a mental health crisis end up in already crowded jails and emergency rooms -- places Hyde said they often don't belong.

"We have these backed up jails and backed up prisons, so it certainly doesn't make sense that we have these folks ending up in jail where they're just adding to that burden, causing further backup and causing or allowing their mental conditions to worsen," Hyde said.

The crisis stabilization unit is located just feet from the Pulaski County Jail. It's a 16-bed facility, where law enforcement can bring those suffering from mental distress who have not committed a crime.

Hyde said the center is trying to keep people with mental difficulties out of jail, which can make better use of their public facilities.

UAMS will staff the facility with a multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, psychiatric technicians, licensed social workers and others.

It will serve patients from Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline, Grant, Jefferson and Lonoke counties.

"They can quickly evaluate these folks, get them back on their meds, or get them sobered up -- or whatever their situation seems to be -- connect them with social services," Judge Hyde said.

Pulaski County will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the center on July 6 at 10 a.m. It is located at 3001 W Roosevelt Road.

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